Tankpedia is a website about Armoured Fighting Vehicles especially tanks.

This article is on the Italian Obice da 305/17 G. Mod. 1917 howitzer circa the First World War. I wanted to write this when I noted a number of pictures of this piece that were misidentified; and no details. After finding some good Italians sources I can now write something. Often described online as an Italian self propelled gun; nothing could be farther from the truth. This is the antiquated Italian Obice da 305/17 G. Mod. 1917 howitzer circa the First World War.

Often described online as an Italian self propelled gun; nothing could be farther from the truth. This is the antiquated Italian Obice da 305/17 G. Mod. 1917 howitzer circa the First World War.

As can be seen from the photos below, the howitzer could be set in a fixed position or in the wheeled version which was a portion of the De Stefano (D.S.) carriage which compensated for it’s recoil from the use of inclined ramps. The tracks pictured on the wheels are likely for transport only when it isn’t on it’s rail assembly; they are pedrail wheels. Designed in 1908 and built between 1914 and 1917, a total of 44 were built by Armstrong-Pozzuoli and Vickers-Terni. This howitzer was 305 mm.

The Obice da 305/17 G. Mod. 1917 howitzer required a team of individuals and equipment to disassemble and move it; the below pictures illustrate the gun along with it disassembled for transport by tractors.